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Nursing Assistants Week recognizes the third-largest healthcare occupation
June 12, 2025
June 12 marks the start of Nursing Assistants Week, when we recognize the role of these healthcare support workers in caring for patients. Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Some of the job duties of nursing assistants are to measure vital signs, help patients bathe and dress, and communicate patients’ health concerns to nurses.
Nursing assistants had employment of nearly 1.4 million in May 2024, making this the third-largest healthcare occupation after home health and personal care aides (4.0 million) and registered nurses (3.3 million). The average hourly wage for nursing assistants was $19.84, though pay varied by industry.
Industries with the highest employment of nursing assistants, May 2024
Industry
Employment
Hourly mean wage (in dollars)
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
492,050
19.54
General medical and surgical hospitals
425,740
20.25
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly
150,140
19.07
Home health care services
76,790
18.18
Employment services
57,740
22.49
Individual and family services
34,130
17.09
Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals
27,510
21.16
Offices of physicians
22,060
19.81
Local government, excluding schools and hospitals
19,690
20.63
Federal executive branch
15,640
25.40
Nursing care facilities had the highest employment of nursing assistants, with about 492,000 jobs, followed by general medical and surgical hospitals (425,740). Nearly two thirds of nursing assistants were employed in these two industries. Industries with the highest employment of nursing assistants also included continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly (150,140), home health care services (76,790), and employment services (57,740), which includes temporary help services.
United States Department of Labor
